Indicating push button mechanism

ABSTRACT

The specification describes an indicating push button head for a switch which comprises two viewing plates viewed through a front window and reflecting light from the surroundings. The viewing plates are arranged so as to turn individually in a housing of the mechanism adjacent to the window. At least one of the viewing plates is pivotally mounted in a swinging lever, which is controlled by the movement of a sliding switch means so as to assume two defined angular positions and one of the two viewing plates is swung into the field of view of the window.

United States Patent 1191 Schadow Dec. 24,1974

INDICATING PUSH BUTTON MECHANISM Rudolf Schadow, Konigsbacher Zeile, 23, Berlin 28, Germany Filed: Apr. 11, 1973 Appl. No.: 350,031

Inventor:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 27, 1972 Germany 2220812 US. Cl. 116/124 R, 200/167 A Int. Cl. G09f 9/00 Field of Search 116/114, 70, 124, 124 L, 116/129 R, 135, DIG. 28; 200/67, 167 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1960 Ambrose 40/331 4/1970 Campbell 116/124 R 4/1971 Gammill 116/124 R 3,715,548 2/1973 Schadow 200/167 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,429,478 1/1966 France 116/124 Primary ExaminerLouis J. Capozi Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen 57] ABSTRACT The specification describes an indicating push button head for a switch which comprises two viewing plates viewed through a front window and reflecting light from the surroundings. The viewing plates are arranged so as to turn individually in a housing of the mechanism adjacent to the window. At least one of the viewing plates is pivotally mounted in a swinging lever, which is controlled by the movement of a sliding switch means so as to assume two defined angular positions and one of the two viewing plates is swung into the field of view of the window.

24 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures MENU-10558241974 3.855.961

sum 3 9 3 Fig.5

INDICATING PUSH BUTTON MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field To Which Invention Relates The invention relates to an indicating push button mechanism, more particularly for push button switches, comprising two viewing plates which can be seen through a front window and reflect light from the surroundings.

2. The Prior Art Such indicating push button mechanisms, in the case of which two defined push button positions are clearly indicated mechanically and optically, that is to say without built-in incandescent lamps, have been proposed in various different constructions. Generally these previously proposed indicating push button mechanisms possess the following disadvantages:

1. The surface serving for providing an indication is too small in relation to the size of the front surface of the button, something which is more particularly curved by the complicated mechanical switching or operating mechanism.

2. The indicating means is too far removed from the viewing window of the push button head so that in particular in the case of viewing the push button and the sign obliquely no clear information as to the setting is received.

3. The indicating surfaces are curved, something which makes labelling them difficult.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION One aim of the present invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to provide an indicating push button head with means for indicating positions and which can readily be inspected even when not looked at directly, that is to say when it is looked at obliquely. A further aim of the invention is to provide such a mechanism which operates reliably over long periods of time.

In order to attain'these and other aims the present in vention provides that the viewing plates are arranged so as to be individually rotatable in the housing of the push button adjacent to the window and at least one of them is pivotally mounted on a pivoting lever. This lever is acted upon by the movement of a sliding switch, and it assumes two distinct angular positions and swings one of the two viewing plates into the field of view of the window.

In accordance with the invention two comparatively large viewing plates can be swung alternately into the field of view of the window of the button. Since they swing or fold inwards during the time of changing over by a swinging movement, the pivotal changing over occurs with the minimum space requirement and the radius of the swinging lever can nevertheless be made comparatively large. In the prior art, if it were desired to equip position indicating means operating with a square indicating drum or pairs of indicating surfaces arranged at-a wide angle to each other, with comparatively large indicating surfaces, the button would haveto be made many times larger, if approximately the same radius as with the invention were to be provided on the head. In the case of a smaller radius the distance from theviewing window would be greater.

LIST OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS In what follows two embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indicating push button head' mechanism in accordance with the invention, partly broken away. I

FIG. 2 shows an axial section of a push button head in the non-depressed position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a push button head-approximately in the half-depressed position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the push button after being completely depressed.

FIG. 5 shows a section of another embodiment of the invention with the push button head not depressed.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the push button head half depressed.

FIG. 7 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 5 with the push button head completely depressed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the spatial arrangement of the viewing plates 11 and 13, their bearing, the pivoting lever 8, its bearing or pivot 9, and the means for moving or controlling the viewing plates by means of driving grooves 15, 15. The manner of operation will be explained chiefly with reference to the diagrammatic representations of the other figures.

In FIGS. 2 to 7 the following parts are well known in the art'and are of only subordinate importance for the invention: The push button switch 1 with its push button plunger 2 and return spring 3, the switch frame or chassis 4, the push button housing 5 and the attachment means 6 forthe push button plunger on or in the push button housing.

The push button housing is'interrupted by a window 7 on the front part. In practice it would, however, naturally be possible to provide a lateral end part or an obliquely placed end part. The window 7 makes it possible to inspect the head looking at one of the two viewing plates A 11 and B 13, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is well reflected, the viewing plates should be placed as close as possible to the window. This is facilitated by making the radius R large, which is defined by the pivoting lever 8 and the pivot point or bearing 9.

The viewing plates A and B have the common hearing means 10 which has means that is oriented generally parallel to window 7 and the pivoting lever and can therefore adapt themselves to the space available on turning of the pivoting lever 8 and the plates can assume an angle to each other (FIG. 3) which is less than The angular driving means for the viewing plates A and B can be arranged in various different manners. FIGS. 1 to 4 show two possibilities.

In one case driving grooves 15 and 15 are arranged laterally in the interior of the push button housing 5 and they define a suitable curve or cam surface, which can cooperate with laterally extending pins 12, 14 on the sides, remote from the bearing 10, of the viewing plates or flaps. In the two terminal positions defined (FIGS. 2 and 4) the pins 12 or 14 lie against the front guiding surface or edge 18 and ensure that the viewing plate in question is parallel to the window 7.

The push button housing can be made in a simpler manner if the means for changing over the viewing plates is only along the outer guide curve 16, 16. In this case the pins 12, 14 are not necessary, if the guide curve 16, 16' extends over the whole breadth, or a reasonable part of it, of the interior space of the push button. In order to erect the viewing plates in front of the window 7 it is then, however, necessary to provide a spring 30 which on the one hand abuts against the push button housing, approximately at 32, and with the limb 31 presses the viewing plate towards the window 7.

FIG. 2 shows the indicating push button mechanism in the non-depressed position and the control slide 19 which is fixed in the switch frame 4 with the hook 20, has its nosepiece 21 at the same level with respect to window 7 as the bearing 9 on the edge 22 of the pivoting lever so as to be non-operative at this time. The pivoting lever 8 is held by a compression spring 24 in a defined starting position. The compression spring 24 has one end resting aginst the bottom of the housing and the other end engages the pin 23. In this position the viewing plate 11 appears inthe window 7.

On depressing the push button the pivoting lever 8 moves in accordance with FIG. 3 towards the stationary driving slide 19 and the nosepiece 21 slides on the edge 22 and thus turns the pivoting lever'8 about the bearing 9. Then the two viewing plates 11 and 13 appear for a short time in the window 7 at a more or less acute angle to each other.

If the push button is depressed as far as it will go (FIG. 4), the pivoting lever 8 turns into its defined terminal position. The viewing plate 13 appears in the window 7 and the edge 22 of the pivoting lever comes into a position in which it is parallel to the direction of thrust; further depressing of the push button cannot lead to the nosepiece 21 changing the position of the pivoting lever 8 further so that the viewing plate 13 in the window 7 cannot react with-a change in position if the switch is pushed toofar. I

-It may oftenbe the case that the small amount of space available inside a push button head does not allow the pivoting, of both viewing plates by the pivoting lever 8 and an arrangement of a viewing plate 13 on the pivot bearing 10, which bearing is oriented parallel to window 7, (FIGS. to 7) is sufficient, while the second viewing plate 25 is pivoted directly on the bottom of the housing, at bearing 26, which bearing is oriented parallel to window. This viewing plate 25 is urged by a spring 28 towards the window 7, and the spring engages the pin 27 on the housing 5 of the push button. The resiliently loaded viewing plate 25, which furthermore can be in the form of a strip spring, at the same time performs the task of the spring 30 of FIGS. 2 to 4, that is to say it springs in the off position of the push button (FIG. 5) automatically against the window 7 while in the depressed condition (FIG. 7) it is also pressed against the viewing plate 13.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show the manner of operation of the arrangement in three phases: off position FIG. 5, half depressed FIG. 6, depressed to the full FIG, 7. The pivoting lever 8 can also make do without spring loading (spring 24 in FIGS. 2 to 4), if the edge 22 of the pivoting lever has a bay above the bearing 9 and the nosepiece 21 of the control slide 19 lying on the cranked part 22 defines the off position of the swinging lever.

It is convenient to displace the pivot point 9 of the pivoting lever 8 to one side towards the housing bottom (where the bearing 26 is located) in order to make the viewing plates come as close to the window 7 as possible. FIG. 6 indicates how the viewing plate 25 moves inwards in order to allow a space saving swinging over of the viewing plate 13 so as to move towards the upper housing wall. v

The rounding of the sliding edges on the viewing plates is'onlya matter of practical need. Furthermore, a slightly cranked extension 29 on the viewing plate 13 pivoted on the pivoting lever 8 is particularly appropriate at the pivoting point 9 which is displaced towards the housing bottom in order to ensure that theupper edge of the viewing plate 25 (FIG. 5) in the off position does not come out of engagement.

The viewing plates can have various contrasting colors and/or lettering. On the other hand, it is also possible for a transparent insert in the window 7 to be let tered and in this case the contrasting colors seem to the rear indicate where the push button is switched on or switched off.

I claim:

1. An indicating push button mechanism having two indicator plates for indicating two different button positions, comprising:

a hollow push button housing; said housing having a viewing window thereinto through which the interior of said housing may be viewed;

two viewable plates in said housing for being moved such that a respective one of said plates is viewable through said window at each button position;

a lever in said housing; said lever being so supported in and being so movable in said housing that a portion of said lever is movable in said housing behind said viewing window and in a first direction across said window and also in a second direction opposite said first direction;-

at least one of said plates being connected to said lever portion and being movable by said lever portion across said window in said first direction to a firstposition at which said first plate is oriented to be viewable through said window and in'said second direction to a second position at which said first plate is moved away from said window and is oriented so as not to be viewable through said window;

said second plate being connected to said first plate such that one of said lever and said first plate selectively moves said second plate to a third position at which said secondplate is not viewable throgh said window and at which said first plate is in said first position, and moves said second plate to a fourth position at which said second plate is viewable through said window and atwhich said first plate is in its said second position;

lever moving means in contact with said lever; said lever moving means being shiftable with respect to said lever upon movement of said housing with respect to said moving means; said housing being movable with respect to said moving means; said moving means and said lever being so shaped and positioned with respect to each other that said lever is moved in said first direction to a first terminal position of said lever which is at said first plate position through shifting of said housing in a third direction with respect to said moving means and such that said lever is moved in said second direction to a second terminal position of said lever which is at said first plate second position through shifting of said housing with respect to said lever moving means in a fourth direction with respect to said moving means and opposite said housing motion third direction. 2. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 1, wherein said lever has a moving means engaging surface; said moving means comprising a control slide which abuts said lever surface and means supporting said slide stationary With respect to motion of said housing; said housing being reciprocally movable along a straight pathway with respect to said slide; said lever surface being oriented parallel to said straight pathway in at least one said terminal position of said lever.

3. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first plate is pivotally connected at a pivot connection to said lever portion and the first axis of such pivot connection is generally parallel to said winurging means for urging said first plate to face toward said window when said first plate at said first position and for urging said second plate to face toward said window when said first plate is at said second position.

4. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 3, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a second axis, which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 3, in which the viewing plates'have different contrasting colors.

' 6. The structure as set forth in claim 3, in which the viewing plates have different lettering. 7. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 3,

wherein said second plate is pivotally supported on a pivot connection in said housing and is moved between its said third and said fourth positions by pivoting therebetween.

8. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein; at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.

9. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said second plate is pivotally connected at its said pivot connection to said lever portion and the second axis of such pivot connection is generally parallel to said window; said second plate being connected to said lever portion such that said second plate is facing toward said window when said second plate is at said fourth position and said second plate is pivoted to face toward another side of said housing when said second plate is at said third position.

10. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 9, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis, which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.

11. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 9, wherein said first and said second plates are connected to said lever portion near a respective edge of each said plate and said plates extend away from each other and away from their respective said first and second pivot axes.

12. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 11, wherein said first-and said second pivot axes are the same.

13. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 11, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein and at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.

14. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 11, wherein said lever is pivotallymounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis which saidpivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.

' 15. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a plate motion guiding cam in said housing; guide means attached to said plates and in engagement with aid cam to cause said cam to guide said plates as said plates shift; said cam being shaped to cause the said shifting of said plates between their re spective said first and second positions and said third and fourth positions. 7 a

16. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 15, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis, which said pivot connection is'fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.

17. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said lever is pivotallymounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connectionhaving a third axis which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion. I v

18. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 17, wherein said guiding cam is a groove defining a pathway and said guide means are pins engaging in said groove.

19. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 17, wherein said plate urging means comprises a spring located and adapted to press each said plate toward said window when said first plate is in said first position and when said second plate is in said fourth position.

20. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 19, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein and at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.

21. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said first plate pivot connection is separate from said second plate pivot connection; said lever portion and said first plate being so positioned in said housing that when said first plate is at said first position, said first plate is between said second plate and said window, and when said first plate is at said second position,

said first plate is away from a location between said second plate and said window whereby said second plate is at said fourth position and is thus facing toward and is viewable through said window.

22. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 21, wherein said second plate support comprises a pivot connection for said second plate; said second plate pivot connection having a third pivot axis that is fixed with respect to said housing and that is generally parallel to said window;

as said first plate pivots and as it moves between its said first and second positions, said first plate engages and pivots said second plate about said second axis; means urging said second plate to pivot toward said window and urging said second plate against said first plate.

23. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 22, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein and at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.

24. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 23, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis, which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing. whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion. 

1. An Indicating push button mechanism having two indicator plates for indicating two different button positions, comprising: a hollow push button housing; said housing having a viewing window thereinto through which the interior of said housing may be viewed; two viewable plates in said housing for being moved such that a respective one of said plates is viewable through said window at each button position; a lever in said housing; said lever being so supported in and being so movable in said housing that a portion of said lever is movable in said housing behind said viewing window and in a first direction across said window and also in a second direction opposite said first direction; at least one of said plates being connected to said lever portion and being movable by said lever portion across said window in said first direction to a first position at which said first plate is oriented to be viewable through said window and in said second direction to a second position at which said first plate is moved away from said window and is oriented so as not to be viewable through said window; said second plate being connected to said first plate such that one of said lever and said first plate selectively moves said second plate to a third position at which said second plate is not viewable throgh said window and at which said first plate is in said first position, and moves said second plate to a fourth position at which said second plate is viewable through said window and at which said first plate is in its said second position; lever moving means in contact with said lever; said lever moving means being shiftable with respect to said lever upon movement of said housing with respect to said moving means; said housing being movable with respect to said moving means; said moving means and said lever being so shaped and positioned with respect to each other that said lever is moved in said first direction to a first terminal position of said lever which is at said first plate position through shifting of said housing in a third direction with respect to said moving means and such that said lever is moved in said second direction to a second terminal position of said lever which is at said first plate second position through shifting of said housing with respect to said lever moving means in a fourth direction with respect to said moving means and opposite said housing motion third direction.
 2. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 1, wherein said lever has a moving means engaging surface; said moving means comprising a control slide which abuts said lever surface and means supporting said slide stationary with respect to motion of said housing; said housing being reciprocally movable along a straight pathway with respect to said slide; said lever surface being oriented parallel to said straight pathway in at least one said terminal position of said lever.
 3. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 1, wherein said first plate is pivotally connected at a pivot connection to said lever portion and the first axis of such pivot connection is generally parallel to said window; said first plate being connected to said lever portion such that said first plate is facing toward said window when said first plate is at said first position and said first plate is pivoted to face toward another side of said housing when said first plate is at said second position; urging means for urging said first plate to face toward said window when said first plate at said first position and for urging said second plate to face toward said window when said first plate is at said second position.
 4. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 3, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a second axis, which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.
 5. The structure as set forth in claim 3, in which the viewing platEs have different contrasting colors.
 6. The structure as set forth in claim 3, in which the viewing plates have different lettering.
 7. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 3, wherein said second plate is pivotally supported on a pivot connection in said housing and is moved between its said third and said fourth positions by pivoting therebetween.
 8. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein; at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.
 9. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said second plate is pivotally connected at its said pivot connection to said lever portion and the second axis of such pivot connection is generally parallel to said window; said second plate being connected to said lever portion such that said second plate is facing toward said window when said second plate is at said fourth position and said second plate is pivoted to face toward another side of said housing when said second plate is at said third position.
 10. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 9, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis, which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.
 11. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 9, wherein said first and said second plates are connected to said lever portion near a respective edge of each said plate and said plates extend away from each other and away from their respective said first and second pivot axes.
 12. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 11, wherein said first and said second pivot axes are the same.
 13. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 11, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein and at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.
 14. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 11, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.
 15. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a plate motion guiding cam in said housing; guide means attached to said plates and in engagement with aid cam to cause said cam to guide said plates as said plates shift; said cam being shaped to cause the said shifting of said plates between their respective said first and second positions and said third and fourth positions.
 16. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 15, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis, which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.
 17. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing, whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion.
 18. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 17, wherein said guiding cam is a groove defining a pathway and said guide means are pins engaging in said groove.
 19. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 17, wherein said plate urging means comprises a spring located and adapted to press each said plate toward said window when said first plate is in said first position and when said seCond plate is in said fourth position.
 20. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 19, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein and at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.
 21. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 7, wherein said first plate pivot connection is separate from said second plate pivot connection; said lever portion and said first plate being so positioned in said housing that when said first plate is at said first position, said first plate is between said second plate and said window, and when said first plate is at said second position, said first plate is away from a location between said second plate and said window whereby said second plate is at said fourth position and is thus facing toward and is viewable through said window.
 22. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 21, wherein said second plate support comprises a pivot connection for said second plate; said second plate pivot connection having a third pivot axis that is fixed with respect to said housing and that is generally parallel to said window; as said first plate pivots and as it moves between its said first and second positions, said first plate engages and pivots said second plate about said second axis; means urging said second plate to piot toward said window and urging said second plate against said first plate.
 23. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 22, wherein said housing is comprised of a side having said window therein and at least along said first and second directions through said housing, said window is approximately the full width of said housing side; each said plate is approximately the full width of said window along said first and second directions.
 24. The indicating push button mechanism of claim 23, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted on and is pivotable about a pivot connection having a third axis, which said pivot connection is fixedly positioned with respect to said housing. whereby said lever portion motion comprises pivoting motion. 